Wheel-carrier



E. R. DRAVER.

WHEEL CARRIER.

mwucmon mso 050.31, 1911.

1,322,6 Patented Nov. 25, 1919.

pnrrnn earns PATENT or ies.

EMIL It. DRAVER, 0F RICHMOND, INDIANA. I

WHEEL-CARRIER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 25, 1919 Application filed December 31, 1917. Serial No. 209,762.

ing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My present invention has for its particular objectthe provision of an improved extra wheel carrier; and to such ends, generally stated, the invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and defined in the claims.

This improved carrier involves features which also adapt it for use as an inclosing receptacle for one or more tires, and in some aspects it is in. the nature of an improvement on, or modification of the carrier disclosed and broadly claimed in my companion application S. N. 155,647 filed of date, March 19, 1917, and entitled Wheel carrier.

From another point of view, the present application is a modification of, or improvement on the wheel carrier disclosed and claimed in my pending application S. N. 170,631, filed of date, May 24, 1917, entitled Wheel carriers. The present ap plication, however, involves important features of improvement in the spindle structure, whereby it is readily convertible from a structure adapted to carry one wheel, into the structure adapted to carry two wheels, or conversely, and involves also other improved features which are applicable to the spindle, irrespective of whether or not it is made extensible.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate theinvention, like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical axial section taken through the carrier and two wheels mounted thereon, some parts of the spindle structure being shown in full;

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the parts of the carrier and wheels shown in Fig. 1. some parts being broken away; and

Fig. 3'is a plan view of the endwise reversible supplemental spindle sections.

Of the parts of the automobile shown I in Fig.1, the numeral 4 indicates the body,

the numeral 5 the side bars of the main frame, the numeral 6 the rear springs, and the numeral 7 the gasolene tank.

In the application of the improved wheel carrier, a rigid tie plate 8 is preferably extended across and riveted at its ends to These wheels are of standard form now in extensive commercial use.

The main spindle or spindle section is preferably a casting 12 of tubular form having inwardly extended flanges at both ends and, as shown, also having a multiplicity of peripheral openings, which latter openings serve to lighten up the spindle casting and to facilitate removal of the core therefrom after it has been cast. The extended end of this tubular main spindle 12 is of a size that will extend through the smallest portion of the passage in the wheel hub, but the inner portion-of said spindle casting is made conical or flaring so as to engage the flaring inner surface of the wheel hub and thereby afiord a stop limitmg the inward movement of the wheel toward the bracket 9. To rigidly but detachably secure the spindle casting 12 to the flange 10 of the bracket 9, machine screws 13 are preferably passed through perforations in said flange 10 and are screwed into the inner end flange of said spindle casting.

For carrying a second wheel when the spindle is adjusted to carry two wheels, and for assisting in securing a single wheel on the main spindle when the spindle structure is arranged for carrying but one wheel, there is provided an endwise reversible socalled supplemental spindle 14 that is threaded at both ends and is provided with a projecting integral or rigid outstanding flange 15 that is located relatively much nearer to one end than to the other of the 5 supplemental spindle.

When the spindle structure is adjusted for carrying two wheels, as shown in. Fig. 1, the short threaded end of the supplemental spindle 14 is inserted axially into the projecting end of the main spindle, and the flange 15 is rigidly secured to the flanged outer rim of said main spindle,prefer'ably by machine screws 16 passed through perforations in said flange 15 and screwed into 15 the outer end flange of said main spindle. To suitably hold the hub of the second wheel on the supplemental spindle 1 1, said supplemental spindle is provided with two detachable hub engaging devices 17 and 20 18. The hub engaging device 17 is inthe form 'of a sleeve having radiating hub engaging flanges 17 and a projecting spacing disk 17*. The spacing disk 17 is interposed between and holds the hubs of the two wheels out of direct contact. The outer edges of the flanges 17 converge outward or toward the extended end of the supplemental spindle, and they fit the flaring interior adjacent end surface-of the second or outermost wheel and afford a stop limiting the movement of the said second wheel toward the first wheel.

The hub engaging device 18 has threaded engagement with the long threaded end of the supplemental spindle 15 and works as a nut thereon. The inner end peripheral portion of the nut acting or clamping'member 18 is preferably made conical to fit the outwardly flaring interior surface of the outer 40 end portion of the outer or second wheel, so that when the said nut member 18 is tightened, it will cause the hubs of both wheels to be tightly clamped onthe spin dle structure, thereby avoiding rattling. Preferably, inner and outer or so-called back and front plates of concavo convex disk-like form are employed for the purpose of including the sides of the wheels and assisting in holding the wheels. These clamp- 5!) ing plates are preferably made of sheet steel.

The inner or back plate 19 has an axial passage, and that portion thereof that immediately surrounds said axial passage is interposed and rigidly clamped between the v head flange 10 of the supporting bracket 9,

and the flanged inner end of the tubular T main spindle 12.

The front or outer clamping plate 20 has a reinforced cast center portion 20 'that is axially perforated to permit it to be freely slipped over the projecting threaded end of the supplemental spindle 14. Working on I the projected uter threaded end of said supplemental spindle is an outside clamping 65.nut 21, preferablyprovided with a projecting arm 22 by means 'of which it may be rotated and tightened under the desired pressure. The threads on the relatively long and short ends of the supplemental spindle lat are of the same character and.size, so that the clamping nut 21 may, at will, be applied to either end of said spindle, to wit,

to the threaded end of the supplemental spindle that is set outward.

23 indicates a flexible tire cover of oil cloth or any other suitable material, preferably transversely split at one place and provided with separable fasteners} 24: by means of which its overlapped ends may be secured after the cover is applied around the tires.

When a flexible tire cover of this character is applied, as shown in Fig. 1, its inwardly projecting edge flaps are clamped between the tire and clamping dge of the 35 adjacent clamping plate, and thereby firmly held in position. When such aflexible cover, but of less transverse width, is applied to a single tire, the proper insertion of its edge flaps between the tire and clamping plates is a much easier matter than when a wider form is to be applied over two tires, as shown in the drawings. In applying the flexible cover over two tires, the inner edge thereof, is first inserted between the tire and the edge of the inner clamping plate 19, and it is then tightly held or clamped by screws to the hub-engaging device 18 against the hub of the outer wheel, while the outer clamping plate 20 is still removed. In this way, the inner edge of the flexible cover is first firmly secured so that the cover may be pulled outward and downward over the tire of the second or outer wheel. Then the outer clamping plate 20 is applied, and by tightening of the nut 21, its rim is clamped against the inturned outer edge of the flexible cover, and the latter is then securely held both at its inner and outer edgestightly stretched over. the two tires, as shown in Fig. 1.

The hub-engaging devic 18, whether or not the flexible cover is applied, serves to firmly clamp the two wheels onto the spindle before the outer or front plate 20 is applied in position; and after the parts are assembled, as shown in Fig. 1, the main clamping force which holds the wheels on the spindle will be suppled by the said hubengaging device 18. Moreover, removalof the outer cover does not release the two wheels from the, spindle. When the outer or front clamping plate 20 is secured in pos1tion, however, it cooperates with the hub engaging devlce 18 to further clamp the wheels on the spindle and to prevent vibration thereof. When the flexible cover is applied, there is afl'orded a complete wheel inclosing receptacle. but when the flexible cover is not applied, the wheelsvare inclosed,

17' are removed from th spindle 14: and the said spindleis then inverted, end for end, and by the screws 16, secured in position with its short threaded end projecting outward and with its long threaded end extended into the pocket 4 of the supporting bracket 9. With the spindle 14 thus ad justed, the clamping plate 20 may be slipped onto the projecting short threaded end thereof and by application of the nut 21 to the said short threaded end, the clamping plate 20 may be pressed against the tire or rim of the single wheel, then mounted on the main spindle 12.

Obviously, an automobile may be finished and sold with the equipment for carrying but one Wheel and then if, subsequently, the purchaser desires to carry a second extra wheel, he will need to purchase only thehubengaging member 18 and spacing device 17.

The tubular orhollow form of the main spindle section makes a very strong structure. The smaller and weaker outer or extension spindle is also thereby reduced to a minimum length, and with the auxiliary device applied thereto, gives the spindle very great strength for carrying two wheels as well as for carrying a single wheel.

What I claim is:

1. A wheel carrier comprising a. spindle having means for securing it to avehicle, an inner plate applied to the inner portion of said spindle, an outer-plate detachably applied to the projecting end of said spindle, means for securing said outer plate in position on said spindle, and a hub clamping device located inward of said outer plate and adjustable, on said spindle to clamp the wheel hub independently of said outer plate and its securing means.

2. A wheel carrier comprising a main spindle for supporting an extra wheel, a supplemental spindle detachably applied to said main spindle for supporting a second wheel, an inner plate applied to the inner portion of said main spindle, an outer plate detachably applied to the projecting end of said supplemental spindle, a plate clamping device located outward of said outer plate and having threaded engagement with said supplemental spindle, and a hub clamping device independent of said outer plate and its clamping device, located inward of said outer plate and having threaded engagement with said supplemental spindle.

3. A wheel carrier comprising a fixed main spindle, an endwise reversible supplemental spindle detachably securable to said main spindle with either end projected therefrom, which main spindle is adapted to support one extra wheel and which supplemental spindle is adapted to support a second extra wheel, and means applicable to whichever end of said spindle is projected for securing a wheel thereon, the said main spindle having a cavity adapted to receive whichever end of said supplemental spindle is turned into inoperative position.

i. A Wheel'carrier comprising a fixed main spindle, an endwise reversible supplemental spindle detachably securable to said main spindle with either end projected therefrom, which main spindle is adapted to support one extra wheel and which supplemental spindle is adapted to support a second extra wheel, means applicable to whichever end of said spindle is projected for securing a wheel thereon, the said main spindle having a cavity adapted to receive whichever end of said supplemental spindle is turned into inoperative position, and detachable hubengaging devices on said supplemental spindle.

5. A wheel carrier comprising a fixed main spindle, an endwise reversible supplemental spindle detachably securable to said main spindle with either end projected therefrom, which main spindle is adapted to support one extra wheel and which supplemental spindle is adapted to support a second extra wheel, means applicable to whichever end of said spindle is projected for securing a wheel thereon, the said main spindle having a cavity adapted to receive whichever end of said supplemental spindle is turned into inoperative position,'and detachable hub-engaging devices on said supplemental spindle, one of said detachable devices serving as a spacer for the hubs of two wheels and the other having threaded engagement with said spindle and serving as a clamping device for directly securing the second wheel in position for indirectly securing the first wheel in position.

6. A wheel carrier comprising a fixed main spindle, an endwise reversible supplemental spindle detachably securable to said main spindle with either end projected therefrom which main spindle is adapted to support one extra wheel and which supplemental spindle is adapted to support a second extra wheel, means applicable to whichever end of said spindle is projected for securing a wheel thereon, the said main spindle having a cavity adapted to receive whichever end of said supplemental spindle is turned into inoperative position, detach- 1 mental spindle, one of 'said detachable deable hub-engaging devices on said supplevices serving as a'spacer for the hubs of two wheels and the other having threaded engagement with said spindle and serving as a clamping device for directly securing the second wheel in position for indirectly securing the first wheel in position, an inner clamping plate secured to the inner extremity of said main spindle, an outer clamping plate detachably applied on the projected end of said supplemental spindle, and

a clamping nut on the threaded end of said supplemental spindle outward of saidouter clamping plate. i

'7. A wheel carrier comprising a spindle having means for securing it to a vehicle, an inner plate applied to the inner portion of said spindle, an outer plate detachably applied to the projecting end of said spindle, means for securing said outer plate inposition on said spindle, a hub clamping device located inward of said outer plate and adjustable on said spindle to clamp the wheel hub independently of saidouter plate and its securing means, and a flexible annular cover having inner and outer edge flaps that are engaged, respectively, by the inner and outer clamping plates and are thereby adapted to be forced against the adjacent face of the tire.

8. A wheel carrier comprising a spindle adapted to hold two tire-equipped wheels and provided with means whereby either may be secured to a vehicle, an inner clamping plate applied to the inner portion of said spindle, an outer clamping plate detachably applied to the projecting end of said splndle,

means for securing said outer plate in position on said splndle, a hub clamping device located inward of said outer plate and adjustable on said spindle to'clamp the Wheel hub independently of said outer plate and its securing means, and a flexible annular cover having inner and outer edge flaps that are engaged by thearms of said inner and outer plates, respectively, and are thereby clamped against the adjacent portions of the respective tires of the wheels on said spindle.

and bracket and adapted to close the inner:

side of a wheel on said spindle, an outer disk-like plate detachably applied to the, outer end of said spindle and adapted to close the outer side of a wheel on said spindle, and a nut on the outer end of said spindle for forcing said outer plate toward said back plate.

In testimony whereof I aflix'my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EMIL R. DRAVER. Witnesses:

ORRIN DRAvnR, CLARENCE SHOFER. 

